Goheung, South Korea

Kim Yang-Bae / Getty Images

A rocket carrying South Korea's first home-launched satellite rises from the launch pad, right, at Naro space center. The launch of the scientific satellite had been postponed twice by technical problems. Seoul says the mission is part of a peaceful civilian space program, rejecting any comparison with North Korea's missile launch earlier this year.

A rocket carrying South Korea's first home-launched satellite rises from the launch pad, right, at Naro space center. The launch of the scientific satellite had been postponed twice by technical problems. Seoul says the mission is part of a peaceful civilian space program, rejecting any comparison with North Korea's missile launch earlier this year. (Kim Yang-Bae / Getty Images)

A rocket carrying South Korea's first home-launched satellite rises from the launch pad, right, at Naro space center. The launch of the scientific satellite had been postponed twice by technical problems. Seoul says the mission is part of a peaceful civilian space program, rejecting any comparison with North Korea's missile launch earlier this year.